Why did U-96 not approach Gibraltar submerged?
In Das Boot we see Der Alte planning to approach Gibraltar on the surface, maneuver between the British lookouts and only then dive. But why didn't he attempt to approach underwater, or at the periscope depth?
The Type VIIC U-boat has a range of 150 km while submerged. This seems enough to cross the strait:
In addition to that, Der Alte mentions that the surface current in the strait plays to their advantage, dragging the boat roughly in the desired direction. So why didn't he try for something like:
- Approach the perimeter of Gibraltar, well outside the range of the sentries.
- Submerge to the periscope depth and continue approach until the concentration of sentries becomes too great.
- Perform the final check of the course to make sure the boat was moving in the desired direction and submerge to the 150-200 meters depth (previously we were shown that the boat evaded the destroyer for some 6 hours while remaining on that depth so it should be reasonably safe) and tiptoe forward on electric motors. Then, judging by the hydrophone, determine whether the boat have passed the main line of defense, and...
- Surface and zoom away.
Later, when the boat is already spotted, we see it sprinting on the surface for several minutes before diving. I could understand that the dive was delayed to bring the wounded navigator into the boat, but why did the captain delayed the dive further?
Best Answer
In the book it is explained that the captain delayed the dive, because he judges that the boat is so heavily damaged that once it dives, it will not be able to return up without some repair. So he speeds to shallower water, where the otherwise unstoppable dive is halted by the seafloor. In fact, after diving he tries to level the boat, but it does not react and descends further. Only after some major repair they manage to surface.
This is explained to the bewildered crew only when the boat is well under repair, with the comment that these are the situation in which inexperienced captains lose their boat.
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How many u boats made it through Gibraltar?
The U-boats were sent to assist the Italians, although many were attacked in the Strait of Gibraltar and nine were sunk while attempting the passage and ten more were damaged....Mediterranean U-boat campaign of World War II.Mediterranean U-boat CampaignCasualties and losses95 merchant ships sunk 24 big warships sunk62 U-boats lost7 more rowsWas U96 sunk?
On 30 March 1945, U-96 was sunk by US bombs while in the submarine pens in Wilhelmshaven. In her entire career, she suffered no casualties to her crew. The boat was also known for her emblem, a green laughing sawfish. It became the symbol of the 9th Flotilla after Lehmann-Willenbrock took command in March 1942.How deep can German boats dive?
All modern German submarines are tested for a depth of 197 feet, but for short periods they can go deeper. Cases are known of boats having dived to 250 to 300 feet without injury.Is the movie Das Boot true?
Originally released in 1981, the film Das Boot is based on the true story of a German Submarine and its crew during World War II\u2026a chillingly detailed look at the rigors of war in a U-boat.Das Boot - Gibraltar
More answers regarding why did U-96 not approach Gibraltar submerged?
Answer 2
Not based on any written source, but tactical thinking.
Approach the perimeter of Gibraltar, well outside the range of the sentries.
Submerge to the periscope depth and continue approach until the concentration of sentries becomes too great.
Even the electric engines are noisy enough for a destroyer to pick up. (As we have seen in previous scenes, when the boat was hunted by convoy escorts for hours.)
That is why the plan of the Kaleun included shutting down the engines and having the boat carried through the strait by the current.
At periscope depth, especially at night, a boat is next to blind. The periscope is very close to the surface, so you have very limited range, very limited field of view, only one man able to see at all, and the various lenses further reduce what little light would be available -- and you want the night to be as dark as possible when you attempt a breakthrough like that.
So, once submerged, there would be no further "creeping up" on the sentries, only the current. And the current is not strong enough to carry the boat far before they have to resurface for air.
Resurfacing too close to the sentries at the far side of the strait would mean risk of detection, which -- this close to the naval base at Gibraltar and its effectively unlimited supply of ASW ships and resources -- would mean certain destruction of the boat.
So the idea was to get as close as possible to the strait -- on the surface -- before diving.
As for what happened once the boat was detected, I point to Jan-Christoph's answer.
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